"How we rebuild our team and construct it, there are going to be some tough moments," Karl said. "But I think it will be fun to see how fast this team will come together, how it will grow up and how fast it can prove itself to be a playoff caliber team.

"My hope and desire is to continue to be a playoff team."

Nuggets guard J.R. Smith said Monday after practice, after learning of the trade:

"I mean, it's just rebuilding first. We gotta go forward with what we got. And try to do the best we can in the playoffs."

When asked if there's time this season to salvage a Nuggets playoff run, Smith said:

"I think there is. Our backs have been up against the wall many times before."

The trade will not be made official until the team's conduct a conference call with league officials Tuesday morning.

Missy Franklin, Jenny Simpson, Adeline Gray and three other Colorado women could be big players at the 2016 Rio OlympicsWhen people ask Missy Franklin for her thoughts about the Summer Olympics that will begin a year from Wednesday in Rio de Janeiro, she hangs a warning label on her answer.